Value of Vanagon without engine

[zimbo]

Hi, I'm trying to figure out what to do with my Vanagon. 82 turbodiesel that needs a total rebuild. Question is whether the body without the engine has any value & approximately what. No dents, paint is nice, interior is ok but dirty, seats are all ok. I'm debating whether to pull the engine, rebuild it & put it in a Jetta. My understanding is that most people end up swapping out the 1.6s anyway. I don't know if there's any demand or not for these Vanagons.

Also somebody mentioned that the turbocharger itself was worth more than the van? Am I reading that correctly?

[greebly]

A van that is capable of being driven away is much more valuable than one without an engine. There are some that will buy it as is, but they are going to low ball you because they will be using it for spares or to fix and flip.

[Zeitgeist 13]

Whereabouts in Oly are you?
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Vinzanto]

If you're going to pull the engine, re-seal it and put it in a Jetta why not just pull the engine, re-seal it and put it back in the van?
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1984 Vanagon Westfalia Wolfsberg

[vanis13]

I'm continually looking for my next Westy and I'm looking for solid unit with a blown engine since I'd replace the engine with a subi (or maybe a modern diesel conversion on the net one). So I'm looking for a discount from a running van since its not running but it would be worth more than $500 to me if all else is solid. the dirt may knock a bit off of the final price but I figure I'd have to clean anything anyway.
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83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace

www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make

[vanis13]

and the non-running is not an issue for delivery since if it was withing 200 miles I'd use my AAA towing or if father I would either have it shipped to tow it myself.
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83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace

www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make

[Terry Kay]

82 with no motor?

$100.00
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T.K.

[greebly]

[MarkWard]

Put it on ebay no reserve. I too am always looking for solid vanagons with major problems hoping to pickup at a discount vs a running one. Depending on condition, I'd say between Terry's offer and $1200 depending on the condition of everything else. I have seen non running campers sell on ebay for $4000. There is a market out there.
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☮️

[SyncroChrick]

yes there is a demand for those. some people really wants to have a diesel and this represents a good opportunity to install the engine of their choice.

If the turbo really has value, I would leave it with the van and sell everything as a package on Ebay. Don't even remove anything from it, just sell as is with broken engine. (You may want to clean the inside though).

You may be surprised how much you will get.

It is going to be a lot more than $100, I am willing to bet money on it. My guess would be between $800 to $1500

[spacecadet]

Break it down and part it out- bet you get more than everything else mentioned.
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Daily Drivers Only
--
1990 Volvo 740 Turbo(Sold)
1986 Mercedes 300 Coupe (Sold)
1954 Volvo PV544 (Sold)
1990 Dodge D250 Cummins (Totaled)
1990 Vanagon GL 2.1 Automatic (Sold)
1968 Ford F250(Current)

[SyncroChrick]

[IdahoDoug]

Agree - keep it together unless you are an experienced parts breaker. By the time you do the labor and disassemble, package and ship, you may wish you'd just gotten a single check and be done with it. Advertise it as a winter project and see what happens. You can always change your mind and part it, but once a few missing bits are gone, you can't change your mind and keep it whole.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[raoul mitgong]

Pop Top or not? 82 tintop will not fetch much.
-d
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84 Westy with a 2.1 (Groover)
86 Tintop Syncro (Crow)
86 Tintop Syncro to Westy project (Tom Servo)
91 Westy (Only the top 12 inches of this van (a burn victim))

[spacecadet]

[SyncroChrick]

[D Clymer]

In the Seattle area (Olympia included) Vanagons are enthusiastically in demand. If the body really is straight and original on yours, you should have no trouble finding a buyer for the rolling shell.

I would clean it up and put it on Craigslist for $1200. I think you'll find a taker for somewhere in that price range.

Dave

[Guybrush]

Frankly, going through forums like this and with a bit of experience in car work although not tons of it specifically on Vanagons, it seems to me that in general, most of us are much more able to deal with engine/mechanical work, electrical and interior work, than to take care of body work and paint, which requires much different setups and conditions of work, to do at least a decent job.

So, going against the flow, for me a nice straight body with no dents and a nice paint has more value than a working engine, as used working engines can be bought and installed much more easily than dealing with body work. In addition, most of the time your working engine will end up requiring work and refurbishing soon after purchase, because you'll want to make sure it's in top shape and ready to work.

Anyway, that's my thinking and I have trouble agreeing with those who seem to think this is worthless.

[0to60in6min]

I guess a vanagon Diesel without an engine has some value he in California. The would be buyer will put in any engine he wants a free of smog check for life...